The Government of Rwanda and AI safety and research company Anthropic have announced a landmark three-year partnership to integrate artificial intelligence across key national sectors. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will focus on advancing Rwanda's health, education, and public service systems through AI. The agreement marks Anthropic's first multi-sector government collaboration on the African continent, signaling a significant step in applying AI for national development.
A Strategic Vision for National AI Integration
This new agreement formalizes and significantly expands upon a previous educational collaboration initiated in late 2025. The partnership is designed to create a comprehensive framework for deploying AI solutions tailored to Rwanda's specific developmental needs and priorities. By focusing on long-term capacity building, the initiative aims to embed AI technology sustainably within the nation's core infrastructure.
Enhancing Public Health Outcomes
A central pillar of the collaboration involves supporting the Rwandan Ministry of Health in achieving its ambitious public health objectives. Anthropic will provide AI tools and expertise to help accelerate the country's plan to eliminate cervical cancer. The partnership will also contribute to ongoing national efforts aimed at reducing malaria prevalence and lowering maternal mortality rates.
Empowering the Public Sector with Advanced Tools
To bolster governance and public services, the MOU grants developer teams across Rwandan government institutions access to Anthropic's advanced AI models, Claude and Claude Code. This access is complemented by hands-on training, capacity-building programs, and API credits to encourage innovation. The initiative supports Rwanda's broader strategy to integrate AI safely and effectively into various areas of public administration.
Deepening Educational Transformation
The agreement also codifies and deepens the existing educational partnership, reinforcing a commitment to digital literacy and skills development. It includes the provision of 2,000 Claude Pro licenses for educators across Rwanda and specialized AI literacy training for public servants. Furthermore, the collaboration will continue deploying a Claude-powered AI learning companion in Rwanda and seven other African nations.
Leadership Perspectives on the Partnership
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, highlighted the agreement's strategic value for the nation's technological journey. "Our goal is to continue to design and deploy AI solutions that can be applied at a national level to strengthen education, advance health outcomes, and enhance governance with an emphasis on our context," she stated. This reflects a commitment to leveraging AI in a manner that is culturally and structurally relevant to Rwanda.
Elizabeth Kelly, Anthropic’s Head of Beneficial Deployments, emphasized the company's focus on ensuring broad and safe access to the technology. "We're investing in training, technical support, and capacity building to expand access so that AI can be used safely and independently by teachers, health workers, and public servants throughout Rwanda," Kelly explained. This approach underscores the importance of empowering local professionals to drive AI adoption responsibly.
This strategic alliance between Rwanda and Anthropic represents a forward-thinking model for public-private collaboration in the age of AI. By prioritizing local autonomy, responsible deployment, and skill development, the partnership aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for technological advancement. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to ensure that artificial intelligence delivers tangible and lasting value to the sectors most critical to improving citizens' lives.